|
Hey everyone! I’m Alice Velazquez, though most people just call me Ms. V. I am the concierge on the first floor of City Hall, and I am so excited and deeply honored to welcome my co-workers to the Fall Edition of our ALL-HANDS MEETING: “Why we serve.”
I’m going to shake off the jitters and speak straight from the heart. All-hands isn’t just a livestream – it's a space to explore what it really means to serve our communities – with heart, with intention, and with love.
So let me tell you a little about me. I was born in beautiful Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, and when I was just two, my parents and I moved to Bridgeport Connecticut. I remember my mom in the backyard tending to her chickens and milking her cow. She didn’t speak any English, but she would trade the milk from her cows for meat from our neighbors, and that’s how I learned to speak English – from my community and because of my mom’s quiet, everyday acts of care.
When I was six, we moved again –this time to Brooklyn, New York – the city that truly never sleeps. If you’ve been there, you know exactly what I mean: late-night White Castle runs, block parties, getting soaked by the Johnny pumps on hot summer days, and of course – the music, the food, the culture, the energy! I saw hardships, but I also saw people show up for each other every day.
And that’s what brings each of us City workers here. Have you ever asked yourself: Why do we serve the city? Why do we give back, show up, and keep going – even when it’s hard?
That’s the heart of this all-hands meeting.
People come to City Hall and feel like it might be overwhelming, and I love helping them find their way. Just the other day, I helped someone from Croatia – it went so beautifully that they came back to thank me, saying “Vala van puno,” and even taught me to respond, “Nema na Cemu!” Moments like that remind me how powerful understanding and compassion can be. I also get to help translate for our Latino community, which fills me with pride.
And I’m also proud to be a part of our work as a team. Before I started as concierge, I did two years as security in City Hall. Within those two years, I learned about everyone here. We are a hardworking, dedicated, loyal staff. We empathize with so many situations, and we pull from each other. It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.
So thank you. It truly means the world to me that you are taking part on this journey with me and that you’re participating in all-hands today to share your energy and to gain insight.
| 
